Sheet transfer mechanism



All@ 2Q 1932- F. R. BELLUcl-IE 1,869,403

V SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed June 13, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 um f l' I :,Q

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Allg- 2, 1932- F. R. BELLUCHE 1,869,403

- SHEET TRANSFER MEcHANrsM Filed June 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47//1/0 ,..j wf

f ff /f/ v////ff Patented Aug. 2, 1932 aus sr'rus' R. BELLUCHE, OFl RACINE, WISCONSIN SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM Application led June 13,

This invention relates particularly to means for transferring paper sheets and the like from one cylinder to another and has as itsprimary object to provide a transfer mechla anism in which the surface of the cylinders is `substantially unbroken, having substantially -no gap therein. l

' Another objectof vthis invention resides in the provision of a transfer means of the char- Aacter described especially adapted for use withbronzing machines where cleaning rolls rotating on the sheet tend to pull the same from the grippers as soon as they are opened to transfer the sheet to the receiving cylinder.

Another Vobject of this invention resides in .the .provision of a transfer mechanism of the character .described in` which the grippers are formedof flexible spring material and form their own tensioning means and are independent vof each other vthereby obviating the usual tedious adjustment of thegrippers.

A `further object of this invention resides yin the provision of a transfer mechanism of the character described in which means are provided for clamping the sheet against the receiving cylinder' when the grippers of the rst cylinder are opened during the transfer and until the grippers of theA receiving cylinder engage the sheet.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a transfer mechanism of the character described in which the manufacturing cost is reduced considerably 'of the structure. With the above and other objects vin iview which Will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it `being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be marde as come within the scope of the claims.

ln the,accompanyingdrawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far detherefor, in that means: are provided "for holding vthe Yshe-et during `the `act of transwithout in any way impairing theI eiiiciency Y lingV blocks andthe periphery of-each cylin- 1928. Serial No. 285,033.

visedifor the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is an end view-of `a portion of two cylinders illustrating my improved transfer mechanismv applied Ithereto;

Figure 2 isa cross sectional view taken transversely 'thro-ugh the -cylinders onnthe plane of the line 2 2 of Figure 3 and illustrating the-transfer mechanismin the fact of transferring a-sheet from the first-cylinder '60 to thereceiving cylinder; and y Figure 3 is an elevational view "of the gripper mechanism oftheiirst cylinder taken on the plan-e `of the line 3 3 of .Figure l.

Referring now more I:particular-ly' .to the accompanyingV drawings, .inv-which 'like numerals designate like-partsthroughoutthe several views, 5 designates a work-cylinder which, `in Vthe case of 'a bronzing machine, is termed a bronzing cylinder and V6 a Areceiving cylinder, or, as inthe case of la bronzing machine, :a delivery cylinderand .while i my invention is not restricted to vuse with bronzing machines, it is particularly adapted ferring from one cylinder tothe other-against the tendency ofthe cleaning rolls of such a machine to pull the sheet away from its grippers. 'Each cylinder 5 and 6 is provided with a longitudinal groove or channel 7 toreceive the vgripper mechanisms of which bearing blocks 8 form a part,`the blocks being positioned within thechannels 7 at each end of thejcylinders and atmedial spaced points 8 along the-length thereof. f

Positioned .outwardly of, and filling the space-between the outer surface of -thebearder, is a gripper carryingplateQ which eX- n tends across the length of each cylinder. The plate 9 is secured vin place by cap screws 10 which pass kthrough apertures llin the gripper plates with their heads "positioned vin counterbores V12 and through apertures inthe `l bearing blocks 8 to be threaded, as `at 13,*in the bottom of the channels 7 thus securing thebearing blocks, at one point, and the gripper carryingfplates to the cylinders.

l The outer face ofeachjgripper plate is 1 P Cil curved to form a continuation of the curvature of the surface of its cylinder and secured to the underside thereof by screws or other means 14 is a plurality of grippers 15 formed of flexible spring steel or other suitable metal. The grippers are fastened to the plates at one end and are flexed inwardly toward the center of the cylinders and then bent upwardly, as at 16, to terminate in hooks or paper engaging fingers 17 which are directed at substantially right angles to the straight portions 18 of the grippers which extend between the bends 16 and the fingers 17.

The grippers of the cylinder 6 have their paper engaging fingers 17 cooperating with the tapered face or edge 19 of a gap cover 20 which, like the gripper plates 8, extends throughout the length of its cylinder and has its under surface engaging bearing caps 21 which cooperate with the bearing members 8 to'rotatably mount a shaft 22, for the purpose later described. Cap screws passing through counter-bored apertures 23 in the gap cover and through aligned apertures in the bearing cap and bearing block, are threaded in apertures 24 in the bottom of the channel 7 of the cylinder 6 to secure the gap cover, the bearing caps and the adjacent ends of the bearing blocks in position. The outer surface of the gap cover 2O is Curved, or arcuate to conform to the curvature of the cylinder 6 to form-a continuation thereof. The edge 19, with which the fingers 17 of the grippers cooperate, is spaced buta slight distance from the edge of the gripper carrying plate 9, the Width of the gap being sufficient 'to permit the relatively thin grippers to move therethrough.

The bearing blocks 8 of the cylinder 5 are also provided with bearing caps 25 to rotatably mount a shaft 22, the caps25 being secured in place by cap screws having their heads positioned in counter-bores 27 in the cap members and pass through openings in the adjacent portions of the blocks and are likewise threaded in apertures 13 in the bottom of the channel 7.

The shafts 22 extend across the length of their cylinders and have secured thereto by cap screws 28, gripper actuating members-'29 provided with gripper engaging flanges 30 which are normally positioned to'engage the bend 16 in the grippers and, upon rotation of the shafts, move the grippers outwardly against their own resiliency to open the same.

The gripper actuating members 29 are of a length to extend from one bearing block 8 to the other and thus engage all of the grippers of each respective cylinder. The shafts 22 each have one end extended outwardly of their adjacent endmost bearing blocks 8 to mount an arm 31 which rotatably carries rollers 32 at its outer end adapted to track on the cams 33 and 34, the cam 33 cooperating with the roller carried by the shaft 22 of the cylinder 6 and the cam 34 cooperating with the roller carried by the shaft 22 of the cylinder 5. rlhe cams 33 and 34 are stationary and are suitably secured to the adjacent frame of the machine, not shown, by suitable means 35.

Extended from each arm 31 is a tail piece 36 which engages the inner surface of an annular extension 37 formed on the adjacent end of each cylinder and has an aperture or recess 38 in which the adjacent end of a spring urged rod 39 is positioned, the other end of the rod 39 being slidable in a guide, not shown, carried by the cylinder. A spring 40 confined between the guide, not shown, and a collar 41 secured to the end of the rod 39 adjacent the tail piece 36 yieldably urges the arms and their respective shafts 22 upon which the gripper actuating members 29 are secured towards a position disengaged from the grippers and with the tail piece 36 engaging the annulaiiange 37 of its respective cylinder.

ln the cylinder 5 the space outwardly of the bearing caps 2l which in the cylinder 6 is closed by the Gap cover 2O hasa transfer plate 42 movably positioned therein. The transfer plate 42 is similar in construction to the gap cover 20 extending across the length of the cylinder, and is riveted or otherwise secured to arms 43 of several levers 44 pivoted, as at 45, to the bearing members 8, the medial bearing members having levers at each side thereof. Each lever 44 has an extension or lug 46 carrying a stud 47 to receive oneend of a contractile spring 48 the other end of which is connected with a stud 49 threaded in the bottom wall of the opening 7 to at all times yieldably urge the arms 43 and with them the transfer plate beyond the periphery of the cylinder. y

As, during operation, the cylinders travel at an appreciable speed, the transfer plate 42 will be affected by centrifugal force which tends to project the plate beyond the periphery of the cylinder and thus assists the springs 48.

However, during all positions of rotation of the cylinder, except that at which the sheet transfer takes place, the transfer plate 42 is held against actuation due to centrifugal force and the springs 48, by stops 50 carried by the lever 44 which cooperate with an adjustable screw 51 on the flange 30 to hold the plate 42 in its retracted position with the outer surface thereof forming a continuati on of the cylinder 5.

lVhen the cylinders are in the positions at which their respective cam following rollers 32 ride on the low parts of their cams or off of the cams entirely, their springs 40 are free to rotate the shafts 22 and retract the gripper actuating members 29 permitting the grippers to .Close with their fingers 17 engaging lll lig-seance vthe =edgei19 offthegap cover 20 Iand the edge `-.52'oftlie transfer plate v42. With the movement'of'the gripper actuating members, the

- transfer plate. The screw` l being adjustable, itV Will be apparentthat the levers` 44 Will be moved inwardly a proper distance The-lever 44Y is furtherfprovided With a 'stop 53 Which abuts the adjacent inner surface of the-gripper carryingv plate-ItoA limit Vthe outward movement of thetransfer plate,

however, the stop-53V is so positioned as to 4-permit the spring 48 to-extend the transfer plate a sufficient degree andA permit the same to clamp the sheet 54' betvv-eenfit and the gap cover QOivhenthe cylinders assume the posi- -tion illustrated in Figure 2. At Vthis time, the

sheet is being transferred from the cylinder 5 to the receiving cylinder 6.

The grippers l-are each provided With a Shoo-fly 55 suitably secured tothe portions 18 ofthe grippers and opera-bly movable With "Ztjqthe grippers in'` slots 56 in the gap cover 2O and thetransferplate42 to be extended-outwardly of the periphery of thecylinders fwhen the grippers are actuated toward open position, as shown 1n Figure 2.

.The high spot 57 of the cam 34and the Y"high spot 58.0f the cam 33 are so positioned Withz respect to each otherthat at the time the cylinders assume their positions illustrated in Figure Q, the roller ofthe cylinder 5f 6 has just left the high spot 58- and'the roller of thel cylinder 5 is directlyon the high spot 57. cam 33 drops abruptly beyond its high spot 58, the grippers of the cylinder 6 quickly close Whereas the grippersrof the cylinder 5 remain open until the sheet 54 is-securely held by the grippers of the cylinder 6. lt Will' also be seen that as the grippers of the cylinder 5 are open to a greater extent than the grippers of the cylinder 6,the shoo-flies carried by the grippers of the cylinder 5 extendv beyond the periphery thereof and direct the Y Ward the receivingcylinder,and: meansindeedge of the sheet into the path of the lingers 17 of the grippers carried by the receiving cylinder 6.

The grippers being formed of resilientV spiing steel or other like metal, in themselves provide the necessary tensionV for maintain-Vv ing the same in contact With their cooperating edges to securely grip the edge of the sheet and inasmuch as each gripper is independent of the other, it will be seen that if for any reason an obstruction prevents the full clos-y ing of any single gripper it will not in any Wa effect theA ositive functionin@ of theV remaining grippers` and as the members 29, when in their retracted position, Vmove aWa-y from the bends 16 and the grippers they will be free to exert the maximum of pressure onl the sheet.

Furthermore it Will be seen that as the From theforegoing description,;taken.zin

l connection with the accompanying drawings,

it Willbe readily apparent to thosefskillediin the arti-to Which an inventionlofithe'character -l described appertains, that l provide atransfer mechanism Vfor cylinders: ofi printing presses, bronzing machines,` and-fthe like,-11n

Awhich the cylinders are substantially closed with but a narrow "gap through.Whi'chlwthe grippers operate, and one in.y vvhichthe grip- Y persA are independent of each other'requirin no adjustment and'in Whichia Jsheetisliel clamped against` the .receiving? cyliiider; during the actual transferring' thereof'from one cylinder to the other. n v

What l claim asiny invention is.:

l.v In combination with a p'airoffcylinders Y the receiving cylinder during the transfer#4 ring of the sheet.`A y p Y 2. lIn combination With two cylinders, spring grippers carried byeach cylindeiand adapted toclamp a sheet theretofformovement with the cylinders, means forztrans-ferring the sheet from -the grippers :.ofi'one' cylinder to the grippersof the other 'including means for `projecting the sheet tovvard.v the receiving cylinder, and means independent of v .said projecting-means for holding thefshe'et against the receiving cylinderduringi'the transferring. j Y

3. lncombination With afpai'r ofi cylinders the surface of Which-is substantially Vunbroken-having but a relative-ly 'narrovvfslot therein, spring grippers` carriedbyl each cylinder and cooperating with an--edgel'of each slot to clamp asheet therebetween, thethi'clrness of the grippersbeing substantially. equal tothe Width ofthe slot, means for transferring the sheet from one cylindertothe other including means' for projecting the sheet -topendent of said projecting means for holding the sheet against the receiving cylinderdurthe grippers to transfer the sheet from'zone cylinder to the other, means-at-spacedintervals for projecting the sheet from onecylinder toward the other, and'awmemberfzcarried by; and extending'throughout the length"y of one cylinder and movable to. clamp"ithe lsheet against the other cylinder when, the

grippers are opened tov transferl the-sheet.

5. In combination lWith a pair. of cylinders,

grippers carried by the cylinders: andv `operv able to gripa sheet for movement.therewith,vll

means for transferring the sheet from the grippers of one cylinder to the grippers of the other including means for opening the grippers, means for yieldably urging the opening means to inactive position, a member carried by one cylinder for clamping the sheet against the surface of the other during transferring, and means whereby said member is retracted upon retraction of the grip' per opening means.

6. In combination with a pair of cylinders grippers carried thereby for engaging a sheet to be carried first by one cylinder 'and then by the other, means for transferring the sheet from the grippers of one cylinder to the grippers of the other, and means partially actuated by centrifugal force for holding the sheet against the surface of one cylinder during the transferring thereof.

7. In combination with a pair of cylinders, grippers carried thereby for engaging a sheet to be. carried first by one cylinder' and then by the other, means for transferring the sheet from one cylinder to the other, a memberfor holding the sheet against one cylinder during the transferring, arms carrying said member pivotally mounted to the other l cylinder, and means for moving the member towards the first-mentioned cylinder to hold the sheet thereagainst.

8. In a cylinder having a longitudinal l channel in Iits surface, a plate member closring a portion of the channel and forming a continuation of the curved surface of the cylinder, a second plate member movably mounted closing the remainder of the longitudinal channel normally forming a continuation of the curved surface of the cylinder and slightly spaced from the first plate member to provide a relatively narrow slot in the surface of the cylinder, grippers connected with the first plate member and eX-` tended through the slot to cooperate with the adjacent edge of the second plate member to grip a sheet for movement with the cylinder, means for opening the grippers, and means for moving the second plate member outwardly of the periphery of the cylinder when the grippers are opened.

9. In a cylinder having a longitudinal channel in its surface, a plate member closing Y a portion of the channel and forming a continuation of the curved surface of the cylinder, a second plate member forming a continuation of the curved surface of the cylinder and spaced Afrom the first plate member to form a relatively narrow slot extending throughout the length of the cylinder, spring grippers carried by the first plate member and projected through the slot to cooperate with the adjacent edge of the second plate member to grip a sheet for movement with the cylinder, means movably mounting the second plate member, means atall times tending to extend the second plate member beyond the periphery of the cylinder, means for opening the grippers, and means whereby the means for opening the grippers controls the means at all times urging the second plate member beyond the periphery of the cylinder whereby the second plate member is projected beyond the periphery of the cylinder whenever the grippers are opened.

10. In combination with a cylinder having a longitudinal channel in its surface, plate means secured over the channel to substantially close the same and form a continuaand form continuations of the curved cylinder surface, said plate members being spaced from each other to provide a narrow slot communicating with the longitudinal channel, grippers mounted Within the channel and projected through said narrow slot to coopf crate with one edge thereof, and means Within the longitudinal cylinder channel for actuating the grippers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

FRANK It. BELLUCHE. 

